The Cleveland Browns are reportedly considering a quarterback with the top pick in the draft and there are reasons to think it is not a ploy

For months now, the one sure thing in the upcoming NFL Draft was
believed to be that the Cleveland Browns would select Texas
A&M defensive end Myles Garrett with the top pick. Now NFL
insider Adam Schefter is saying that is not as certain as most
had thought it to be.

According to Schefter, the Browns have not
decided between Garrett and North Carolina quarterback Mitchell
Trubisky, adding that some in the organization prefer Garrett and
others want to draft the quarterback.

This report was immediately met with skepticism as many felt it
was a typical ploy some teams use leading up to the draft to try
and stir the market for a potential trade. The feeling is that if
the Browns would like to trade out of the top spot, teams
that had been targeting Trubisky may now be eager to give up
a bounty for the No. 1 pick.

However, during an appearance ESPN's "Mike & Mike," Schefter
was adamant about what his sources are saying and that there are
reasons to believe the Browns are seriously considering Trubisky
with the top pick.

"I'm just telling you what other people have told me," Schefter
said. "The Browns are considering Mitchell Trubisky at [No.] 1
along with Myles Garrett."

One problem the Browns have is that they also have the 12th pick
in the first round and may have been hoping to get Trubisky in
that spot. A month ago, that certainly seemed possible, but not
anymore.

"If they wait on the quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky will not make
it back to them at 12," Schefter said. "That's not going to
happen because there are too many teams, starting with four of
the first six teams in the draft that have quarterback questions,
that have a need at the position and an interest in a
quarterback."

Schefter also notes that the Browns passed on Carson Wentz in the
2016 NFL Draft and chose instead to trade their pick. The
implication is that the Browns may be gun-shy about the
possibility of passing on another potential franchise
quarterback.

Complicating matters is Garrett, whom NFL teams may not be as
sold on as many draft evaluators previously believed.

Myles
GarrettJoe Robbins/Getty
Images

From Schefter:

"[An NFL executive for a team with a pick in the top ten] said to
me out of nowhere, 'Don't be surprised if Myles Garrett doesn't
go No. 1.' And I said, 'Woah, woah, woah, what do you mean?' And
he said, 'You guys aren't talking about it right now, but there
are holes in his game.' And when you speak to some people, I
think they have some questions about how he is going to react
when it is third-and-two, and minus-14 [degrees] in Cleveland,
and they are on the goal line, and the defense have been on the
field for a long drive."

That last line is eyebrow-raising. It is unclear if they are
questioning Garrett's abilities against the run — ESPN draft
expert Todd McShay said 'I wouldn't say he excels against the
run' — or if they are questioning whether he is just a
workout freak who may not necessarily love football enough to
excel in sub-par conditions when he would be needed most.

Either way, it seems like NFL talent evaluators have some
concerns with Garrett, and if he is not considered a sure thing,
it might make more sense to take the gamble on the more important
position, quarterback.